Page 5 - A Brief History of Racism and Health in So MD

In another case, a doctor’s Black assistant was assisting a white patient with a catheter. The patient was
very abusive and made a false accusation of inappropriate behavior. [Question: Did you have any similar
experiences?] Yes, but not often. You just had to deal with it.

Access to health care differed between African Americans and others. Now there is no limit to access,
but it was a huge problem in 1973 when [NAME] first went to work at the hospital. In the 60’s
[NAME] delivered the children of Black citizens. [NAME] was an aid. The doctor who should have de-
livered the babies referred to all Black women as “Flossie.” This doctor died in 1981.

There were a few exceptional doctors, Dr. deVillarreal of St. Leonard treated everyone the same. Took
anything in payment for services and did not keep records.

In St. Mary’s

From Janice Walthour and her sister Elfreda Mathis, in their family story on the St. Mary’s Hospital
website:

Both sisters pointed out how they find this helpful attitude no matter where you go in the hospital, too.
“This hospital has moved further into the future than many other institutions in the county,” said Elfreda.
“All you have to do is look around. There are people of all faiths, colors and nationalities working here.”
That wasn’t always the case in the county. In the mid-1950s the women’s father worked with a commu-
nity health club that wanted to find an African American physician to serve the community. They
reached out to friends and neighbors and an office site was secured in Carver Heights, an all Black
neighborhood where all of the families had members who either worked in Civil Service or were in the
U.S. Military stationed at Pax River. The health club members made contributions to a health savings
plan, their precursor to the Affordable Healthcare Act that was similar to what Health Share is today.
“Everyone contributed to the plan,” said Elfreda. “The funds were then used to help families with criti-
cal health issues pay for medical bills.” Fundraisers were also held so an African American physician
could come here and get help setting up a practice. “Our parents and others helped in the recruitment of
Dr. Johnson, a graduate of the Howard University School of Medicine. He loved it here and had a grow-
ing and mixed practice with patients of all colors because he was so inexpensive.” Elfreda and Janice
both remembered how Mrs. Lane, the nursing supervisor from the hospital, donated her late husband’s
medical equipment to Dr. Johnson to help him get started. However, his wife didn’t care for the area and
never moved down here so he eventually moved back to her. “We watched all of this going on while
growing up in the county,” said Elfreda. Over time the two women became advocates for the hospital
and for the patients, always thinking about what is best for the community.

But there were good stories during this time, too.

“We were Dr. Bean babies,” stated Elfreda Talbert Mathis and her sister, Janice Talbert Walthour. They
are, of course, referring to Dr. Philip Bean who first began practicing in the county in 1914 and contin-
ued on through the 1970s. “He delivered us at the home of our grandparents, William Bunton and Ella
Hawkins Thompson of Valley Lee.” Dr. Bean was also the doctor they visited when they were really
sick. “There was no segregation in the doctor’s office,” said Elfreda. “It was simply first come, first
served.“

Both sisters subsequently served on the hospital’s board of directors.

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